The following is a fhort sketch of the fable :-Rebate, an old ufurer, who is a creditor to Mr. Fairport for 11,000l. on a report of the capture of the Weft- India fleet, on board of which Mr. Fairport had a large property, was concerned deeply in the infurance of it, and proposes a match between his fon Præcipe, a young attorney, and the daughter of Mr. Fairport, who is defcribed as having a large fortune in her own right, and to induce the father to exert his authority, offers to bribe him by a receipt in full.

Fairport having been denied to Rebate in town, the old man fuppofing him to be at his country feat, comes down for the purpose of urging his bufinefs, accompa nied by his fon; but, previous to his ar rival, Trueman, clerk to Fairport, brings news of the fafe arrival of the Weft-India fleet, and is authorized to reject the propofal of the old man.

nature. Mr. Wood, a free merchant of Decca, coming thence to Calcutta, where the Ganges flows through vast tracts of uncultivated and marshy woods, which render the navigation peculiarly difficult and dangerous, happened to fall in with a poor native wood-cutter. In the course of converfation, the latter faid, that if he had but fifty rupees ( 51 ) he could make a comfortable fettlement. The fifty rupees Mr. Wood lent him. When this worthy man, after staying fome time at Calcutta, returned to Decca, he faw the pleafing effects of his bounty in an advanced fettlement, on a small eminence newly cleared from standing trees. Unfolicited, he lent the wood cutter fifty rupees more. The next voyage, Mr. Wood was delighted to behold the rapid progrefs of the fettlement, and aftonithed to meet the woodcutter offering to pay half the small, but generous loan. Mr. Wood refufed to receive it at that time, and lent hin 100 rupees more. About eighteen months after the commencement of the fettlement, he had the inexpreffible fatisfaction of feeing his induftrious wood-cutter at the head of five populous villages, and a fpacious tract of fine land under cultivation, drained and cleared of fwamps and woods. The wood cutter now repaid the principal he had borrowed, and tendered the intereft, while tears of gratitude and humble affection ftole down his venerable, his happy and expreffive countenance. But how inexpreffible the feelings of the benevolent merchant! Let thofe plunderers, who return with the wealth of nations finking under their cruelty and oppreffion, while they wanton in all the luxuries of life-let them ftill

In palaces lie ftraining their low thought To form unreal wants

to fenfations like his they muft ever be frangers. An enjoyment fo exquifite, fo pure, fo permanent, not all the riches of the Eaft can purchase.

Here the farce opens-Rebate is described by Trueman, to have as strong an appetite for young girls as for money; and he, with Amelia, niece to Fairport, Lucy, a waiting maid, and Frank, a butler, enter into a scheme to retaliate on old Rebate and his fon; Amelia refolving to feduce the old man into an intrigue, and Lucy determining to try her powers on the young one.

In this they fucceed-Lucy_represents Amelia to the old man as flighty and foolish, poffeffing an unaccountable fondnefs for old men, and particularly for old foldiers; and Frank makes Præcipe believe that Lucy is the daughter of Mr. Fairport; but having an averfion to lawyers, he advifes him to put on a navy uniform, and addrefs her in the character of a fea officer. The father and fon fubmit to the advice of the two fervants. The faLight Horfe uniform belonging to Truether is equipped by Lucy in an affociation man, and the fon in a naval uniform, borrowed in the neighbourhood.

Early in the piece, a quaker arrives, who has bufinefs with old Rebate; but he being then engaged with Trueman, pays to the fon a fum of money, the produce of contraband goods fent to Amfterdam, and delivers to him a casket of diamonds to be fold for account of the Amfterdam merchants. These monies and diamonds the fon determines to appropriate to his own ufe, obferving that the letter which accompanies them is an evidence of high treafon, and will prevent all claim.

In a converfation between Rebate and Trucman, in which the character of a good man is diffected, it appears that the father of Amelia had died at Amfterdam, where he had stopped in his return

from

was performed the first time. The characters were as follow, and thus represented.

Characters.

MEN.

Performers. Mr. Palmer.

Mr. Suett.

on.

The second A&t commences with the old man dreffing for an interview with Amelia, to whom he is introduced by Lucy-Amelia affects the character of infanity and folly given her by Lucy, and in different flights fatirizes the extravagances of fashion, by pretending to be enamoured with camps, hunting, gambling, and phaeton driving. At the inflant old Rebate is certain of carrying the lady, Frank alarms them, by giving intelligence that Trueman is returned from town, feeking to put Rebate to death, on account of the injury he had attempted against his mafter's credit; and alfo to kill the officer whom Rebate reprefented, as believing him his rival. Amelia flies for protection to a clofet-Trueman enters, and offers Rebate a sword; the old man pretends he cannot fence, his arm being diflocated; Trueman offers him piltols, and he flies with difgrace.

The fon Præcipe is married to Lucy under the disguise of his naval uniform; Frank having kept him in a continual ftate of intoxication, and his new fpoufe perfuades him to frighten his father under this difguife, for which purpose the brings the father into his prefence. He bullies Frank unnoticed puts a blunderbufs into the father's hands-he prefents it, and the fon falls down, difcovers himfelf, and roars for mercy.

While the father and the fon are in this fituation, Trueman enters, and is followed by Amelia, to whom Lucy has given the diamonds and letter from Amfterdam, which difcovers the property to be Amelia's. The old man, overwhelmed with fhame, goes off, determined to fly to Holland-Præcipe, the fon, comforts himfeif with his fponte-Amelia gives her confent to marry Trueman, and the piece concludes with a compliment to com

merce.

It was received with general applaufe, and bids fair to keep poffeflion of the ftage.

Theatre Royal, Drury Lane.

Saturday, May 18.

THIS evening a new Opera called the Fair American, written by Mr. Pillon,

Summers
Bale

Coachman
Poftillion
Swits
Servants

Angelica Charlorte Rachael

Mr. Du-Bellamy.

Mr. Parfons.

Mr. Griffiths.

Mr. Wright.

Mr. Barton.

Mr. Phillimore, &c.

WOME N.

Mifs Dreadnought Widow

Mrs. Mentor

Mifs Philips.

Mifs Wheeler.

Mrs. Wrighten.

Mrs. Hopkins. Mifs Sherry. Mifs Simplon. This production is avovelly the work of Mr. Pillon; as the mufic is the compofition of Mr. Carter.

The following is the plot of this dra-" ma :-Angelica, who is an American, in the courfe of the troubles in that country, had been captured by the French, and had been releafed from captivity by Col. Monckford, whofe military duty precluded him from having done more than barely setting her at liberty. Angelic comes to England, and is on a vifit at her uncle Bale's, a man mechanically attached to method, who has arranged his occupations for twenty years to come, and has determined, in confequence thereof, to marry his daughter to Colonel Monckford, who is the fon of a lord; notwithstanding Charlotte's previous attachment to Summers, a neighbouring gentleman. Upon Colonel Monckford's arrival, he proposes to his friend Summers to take his mistress off, and affifts him is confequence thereof. He then goes to his intended father-in-law's, as he fuppofes, and meets Angelica, whom he mistakes for Charlotte. He afterwards goes to the afylum, where his friend Summers had depofited Charlotte, and the being informed that the is pursued, he brings her back to her father's, under the fuppofition of protection, with a lady whom he was to be married to. Charlotte difcovers that he is, as the thinks, betrayed; and Summers, who has pursued them to Bale's, challenges Monckford, who difcovers that Angelica is the niece of Bale, and in confequence thereof gives up all idea of rivalship to his friend Summers; and Bale, notwithstanding his methodical attachment to all his arrangements, confents to the union of his daughter and Summers; which, with the marriage of Monckford

led his native glory with our nature, and condefcended to low as to make himself of no reputation, by putting on the form of a fervant, that he might be capable of conferring the greatest benefits upon us that man could receive by his fuffering fuch a fhameful curfed death upon the cross for our redemption? Oh, Sammy, think but often and feriously on Jefus Chrift, and you will experience what it is to have the heart purified by faith..

Secondly, confider often of that exceed ing and eternal weight of glory that is prepared for thofe that perfevere in the paths of virtue. Eye hath not feen, nor ear heard, nor bath it entered into the heart of man to conceive what God hath prepared for fuch as love and ferve him faithfully. And when you have fo long thought on this that you find your mind affected with it, then turn your view upon this prefent world, and fee what vain, inconfiderable trifles you practically prefer before a folid, rational, permanent ftate of everlasting tranquillity. Could we but once attain to a strong and lively fenfe of fpiritual things, could we oftener abftract our minds from corporeal objects, and fix them on Heaven, we should not waver, and be fo inconftant as we are in matters of the greatest moment, but the foul would as naturally afpire towards a union with God as the flames afcend, for he alone is the proper centre of the mind, and it is only the weight of our corrupt nature that retards its motions towards him.

Thirdly, meditate often and seriously of the fhortness, uncertainty, and vanity of this prefent ftate of things. Alas! had we all that the most ambitious craving fouls can defire, were we actually poffeffed of all the honour, wealth, ftrength, beauty, &c. that our carnal minds could fancy a delight in, what would it fignify, if God thould fay unto us, Thou fool, this night fhall thy foul be required of thee? What are a few years when they are over? Look back on your paft hours, and tell me which of them affords you the most plea fing profpect. Whether thofe fpent in play or vanity, or thofe few that were employed in the fervice of God? Have you not in your fhort experience often found Solomon's obfervation on the world very true? Has not a great part of your little life proved, in reflection, nothing but vanity and vexation of fpirit? How many perfons on a death-bed have bitterly bewailed the fins of their past life, and made large promifes of amendment if it would have pleafed God to have fpared them, but none that ever lived or died ever repented of a courfe of piety and

virtue. Then why fhould you not improve the experience of thofe that have gone before you, and your own alfo to your advantage? and fince it is paft difpute that the ways of virtue are infinitely better than the practice of vice, and that life is not only thort at beft, but likewife very uncertain, and that this little portion of time is all we have for working out our falvation, for as the tree falls fo it must lie, as death leaves us judgment will cer tainly find us; have a good courage, ternity is at hand, lay atide every weight, and the fin that doth fo easily befet you, and run with patience and vigour the race that is fet before you. And if at any time, present objects should make fo great an impreffion on your fenfes as to endanger the alienating your mind from the fpiritual life, then look up to Jefus, the author and finisher of our faith, and humbly befeech him, that fince he for our fakes fuffered himself to be under a ftate of temptation, he would please to fuccour you when you are tempted, and in his ftrength you will find yourself enabled to encounter your fpiritual enemies, may, you will be more than a conqueror through him that hath loved us. .. ..

I am forry that you lie under a néceffity of converfing with thofe that are none of the beft, but we must take the world as we find it, fince it is a happiness permitted to very few to choose their company. Yet, left the comparing yourself with others that are worte may be an occafion of your falling into too much vanity, you would do well fometimes to entertain fuch thoughts as thefe.

Though I know my own birth, education, and am confcious of having had great advantages, and many means of grace, yet how little do I know of the circumstances of others? Perhaps their parents were vicious, or at leaft did not take early care to form their minds, and inftil the principles of virtue into their tender years, but i ffered them to follow their own inclinations till it was too late to reclaim them. Am I fure that they have had as many offers of grace, as many and ftrong impulfes of the Holy Spirit, as I have had ? Do they fin against fuch clear conviction as I do? or are the vows of God upon them as upon me? Were they fo folemnly devoted to him at their birth as I was? You had the example of a father that had ferved God from his youth; and tho' I cannot commend my own to you, for it is too bad to be imitated, yet furely earnest prayers many years, and fome little good advice has not been wanting-Bat, if after all, felf-love should incline you to partiality in your own cafe,

ferloudy

feriously confider your own many failings which the world cannot take notice of, because they were fo private, and if still upon comparison you feem better than others are, then ask yourself who is it that makes you to differ? and let God have all the praife, fince of ourselves we can do nothing it is he that worketh in us both to will, and do his pleasure, and if at any time you have vainly afcribed the glory of any good performance to yourself, humble yourself for it before God, and give him the glory of his grace for the future. I am traitened both for paper and time, therefore mult conclude. God Almighty blefs you and preferve you from all evil. Adieu.

Jowit

Remarkable Inflance of Feniale Intrepidity, JOHN III, Duke of Brittany, dying without iffue, left his dominions to his niece Jane, married to Charles de Blois, nephew to the king of France; but Jolin de Mountfort, brother to the late duke, though by a fecond marriage, claimed the Duchy, and was received as facceffor by the people of Nantes. The greatest part of the nobility fware fealty to Charles de Blois, thinking him beft fupported. This difpute occafioned a civil war; in the course of which John was taken prifoner, and fent to Paris. This misfortune would have entirely ruined his party, had not his intereft been fupported by the extraordinary abilities of his wife, Jane of Flanders, a lady who feems to have united in herself all the excellent qualities of both fexes. Bold and intrepid, the fought like a warrior in the field: fenfible and fagacious, the spoke like a politician in the council; and, endowed with the most amiable manners and captivating addrefs, the force of her eloquence was fuch, that the could mould the minds of her fubjects to her own pleasure. She happened to be at Rennes when the received the news of her husband's captivity;

but that misfortune, instead of depreffing her spirits, ferved only to raife her native courage and fortitude. She forthwith affembled the citizens; and, holding in her arms her infant fon, recommended him in the most pathetic terms to their protection, as the male heir of their ancient dukes, who had always governed them with leni ty and indulgence, and to whom they had ever profeffed the most zealous attachment. She declared herself refolved to rua all hazards with them in fo juft a caufe; pointed out the refources that fill remained in the alliance of England; carneftly befeeching them to make one vigorous effort against an ufurper, who, being forced upon them by the intrigues

of France, would, as a mark of his gra titude, facrifice the liberties of Brittany to his protector. The people, moved by the affecting appearance, and animated by the noble conduct of the princefs, vowed to live and die with her in defending the rights of her family; and their example was followed by almost all the Bretons.

The dutchefs went from place to place, encouraging the garrifons of the feveral fortreffes, and providing them with every thing neceffary for their fubfiftence; after which the fhut herself up with her fon in Hennebon, where the refolved to wait for the fuccours which Edward III, King of England, had promifed to fend to her affittance. Charles de Blois, and Bourbon, took the field with a nuaccompanied by the dukes of Burgundy merous

The

army, and, having reduced Rennes, laid fiege to Hennebon. heroic princefs, with the molt undaunted courage, repulfed the affailants in all their attacks; and, obferving one day that their whole army had left the camp to join in a general form, the rushed forth at a postern gate, with 300 horfe, fet fire to their tents and baggage, killed their futlers and fervants, and fpread fuch confternation through all their quarters, that the enemy gave over the affault, and, getting between her and the walls, endeavoured to cut off her retreat to the city. Thus intercepted, the put fpurs to her horie, and, without halting, galloped directly to Breft, which lay at the diftance of twenty-two miles from the fcene of action. There being fupplied with a body of 500 horfe, the inmediately returned, and, fighting her way through one part of the French camp, was received into Hennebon amid the ac clamations of the people. Soon after this the English fuccours appeared, and oblig ed the enemy to raise the siege.

Anecdote of a Lady and a Painter.

portrait

"PRAY,ait painter, to a certain toat upon le plus haut ton, whilft he was fitting for her picture, does your ladyfhip mean to be painted twice over?" The lady, fomewhat difconcerted, faid, "Sir, I do not underftand you." " View the glafs and that painting, and determine whether your rouge is not apparently more artificial than my carmine?" Her ladyfhip flew down flairs, and in the violence of perfpiration at the difcovery, loft a whole ruby cheek, and three blue veins.

Madam, faid a celebrated

This anecdote requires no comment; but is left to every fine woman's feelings, whofe blood flows in their natural veins. Emancipation